Harlem Election Results: Cleare, Espaillat Win Primary Races

HARLEM, NY — Incumbents Cordell Cleare and Adriano Espaillat easily prevailed in their respective races for State Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in Harlem's primary races, according to preliminary vote totals.

In the night's first official result, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat easily won re-nomination to Congress, with the Associated Press calling his victory at 9:13 p.m.

Cordell Cleare, meanwhile, had her victory over challenger Shana Harmongoff called by NY1 after 11 p.m. (Find results for Washington Heights's State Senate race here.)

30th State Senate District results

Preliminary vote totals as of 11:21 p.m. (97.99% of scanners reporting):

• Shana Harmongoff: 29.36% (5,435 votes)
• Cordell Cleare: 69.70% (12,900 votes)

13th Congressional District results

Preliminary vote totals as of 11:21 p.m. (95.92% of scanners reporting):

• Francisco A. Spies: 6.15% (2,172 votes)
• Adriano Espaillat: 80.23% (28,319 votes)
• Michael Hano: 12.35% (4,360 votes)

Background

The most competitive neighborhood race on the ballot this week was the 30th State Senate District primary between incumbent Cordell Cleare and challenger Shana Harmongoff.

That Democratic primary between two relative progressives has been marred by claims that Cleare and her staff threatened and shoved Harmongoff and her staff — charges that Cleare categorically denied.

Harmongoff and Cleare ovlerap on many policy issues, with both saying their top priorities include funding public schools, preserving affordable housing and supporting small businesses. Harmongoff, notably, was endorsed by Harlem's socialist City Councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan, while Cleare was backed by much of the city's political establishment — including Mayor Eric Adams, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat and Assemblymember Inez Dickens.

Also on the ballot: Adriano Espaillat, who is seeking another term in Congress in a district that covers most of Upper Manhattan. He faces two challengers: Michael Hanno, a seller of specialty pet foods; and Francisco Spies.

Hano, affiliated with the group Social Democrats of America, told the Riverdale Press that he decided to run mainly due to his animosity toward Espaillat, citing his prior support for Marisol Alcantara — a state senator who caucused with Republicans as part of the Independent Democratic Conference.

Little information was available about Spies, who has a YouTube channel but no visible campaign website.

Espaillat was heavily favored to prevail. Sine he first defeated Assemblymember Keith Wright in a close race to succeed longtime Congressman Charlie Rangel in 2016, Espaillat has not faced any close primary challenges.

This was the second primary election that Harlemites have voted in this summer — a result of New York's chaotic redistricting process, in which a judge delayed primaries for State Senate and Congress after ordering that district maps be redrawn.

In the previous primary, on June 28, Harlem's three incumbent Assemblymembers all won re-nomination.

Related coverage:

• Claims Of Armed Threats, Shoving Mar Harlem State Senate Race
  
• Harlem Election Guide: State Senate Race, Congressional Primary
• Harlem Election Results: Dickens, Gibbs Ahead In Re-Election Bids